5 March 2015

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Thursday, 5 March 2015 : 2nd Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we listened to the famous story of Lazarus and the rich man, as Jesus had told it to the people. This story is a usual example put forth to show God’s mercy and forgiveness, as well as the love and care which He had shown mankind, and which sadly mankind often rejected out of the pursuit of wealth, or for worldly power and ambitions, for greed and other desires of our heart, all of which that distract us from our true focus and aim, that is the Lord our God.

One may think if they read the readings today that God dislikes the rich and loves only the poor, or that God blesses only those who are poor and without any possessions as Lazarus had been. But this is wrong concept and understanding of what Jesus intended us all to know. What God wants us to do is to love one another equally and without reservations and doubt.

It is a reminder for all of us, that wealth and possessions have the ability to close our hearts against the pleas of the weak and the poor. They themselves are on their own neutral and are neither inherently good or bad. It is in how we use them and utilise them that much evil can happen, or indeed much good. It is up to us and how we use them to the best of use, either selfishly or selflessly.

The rich man have lived in plenty and in happiness, filled with material goods and fulfillment. He has nothing that he lacked, and all that he did in his life were successful. He certainly had many friends and relatives, and in everything, he was respected and praised by his community. As a rich man at that time, he would have hosted many parties and celebrations, and he must even have cared about many of his loved ones, doing good things for them and with them.

Yet, in all that he had done, and in all of his life, he had forgotten a man who sat in front of his house, day after day, begging for food and care. He wished to eat even from scraps that fell from the rich man’s table, for no one cared to give him anything to eat. And he died from his afflictions. But the rich man also died, and both of them go to the place where they deserve what they have done in life.

The rich man suffered for what he had not done in life, to help the poor who was sitting in front of his house, caring not at all for his well-being. If he had at least helped the poor Lazarus, he would not have ended up in hell. It is that lack and devoid of love which cast him down into hell, and not his wealth. The wealth and possessions, all the worldly goods indeed act as a distraction, which often cause many of us to be blind to the plight of those who are suffering.

Many of us fail to realise the suffering of those who are around us, and many of us waited until it is too late to change ourselves and change how we act and do things in this world. This is therefore a warning and a reminder to all of us, so that we keep in mind what we ought to do in this world. We have all each been given a blessing from God, big or small depending on our own abilities. It is therefore entrusted to us to share those blessings with one another.

It should not be an excuse that because the portion of our blessing is perhaps smaller than others, then we refuse to play our part as well. Each of us should contribute to help one another, and love others around us. If we see anyone around us who are in need to help, and nobody seems to do anything or even lift up a hand to help, is it really too difficult for us to do something for them to make a difference?

This season of Lent, let us all grow to be more loving and generous. Let us all use this opportunity to act with charity and generosity to all those who require our assistance. Let us never be ignorant or silent about the plight of those around us. Remember what Jesus had told His disciples about the Last Judgment? Those who have done His will by loving others and showing them tender care shall be judged righteous and welcomed into the eternal life and happiness prepared for them. Those who failed to do so? They will fall into eternal suffering and hellfire with Satan and his angels.

Let us all do our best in this life given to us, and work together to bring about much goodness to one another, especially in this season of Lent. May God be with us all, always, now and forever. Amen.

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Thursday, 5 March 2015 : 2nd Week of Lent (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Luke 16 : 19-31

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Once there was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and feasted every day. At his gate lay Lazarus, a poor man covered with sores, who longed to eat just the scraps falling from the rich man’s table. Even dogs used to come and lick his sores.”

“It happened that the poor man died, and angels carried him to take his place with Abraham. The rich man also died, and was buried. From hell, where he was in torment, the rich man looked up and saw Abraham afar off, and with him Lazarus at rest.”

“He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus, with the tip of his finger dipped in water, to cool my tongue, for I suffer so much in this fire.’ Abraham replied, ‘My son, remember that in your lifetime you were well-off, while the lot of Lazarus was misfortune. Now he is in comfort, and you are in agony. But that is not all. Between your place and ours a great chasm has been fixed, so that no one can cross over from here to you, or from your side to us.'”

“The rich man implored once more, ‘Then I beg you, Father Abraham, to send Lazarus to my father’s house, where my five brothers live. Let him warn them, so that they may not end up in this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ But the rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham; but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'”

“Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead.'”

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Thursday, 5 March 2015 : 2nd Week of Lent (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Psalm 1 : 1-2, 3, 4 and 6

Blessed is the one who does not go where the wicked gather, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit where the scoffers sit! Instead, he finds delight in the Law of the Lord and meditates day and night on His commandments.

He is like a tree beside a brook producing its fruit in due season, its leaves never withering. Everything he does is a success.

But it is different with the wicked. They are like chaff driven away by the wind. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous but cuts off the way of the wicked.

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Thursday, 5 March 2015 : 2nd Week of Lent (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Jeremiah 17 : 5-10

This is what YHVH says, “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings and depends on a mortal for his life, while his heart is drawn away from YHVH! He is like a bunch of thistles in dry land, in parched desert places, in a salt land where no one lives and who never finds happiness.”

“Blessed is the man who puts his trust in YHVH and whose confidence is in Him! He is like a tree planted by the water, sending out its roots towards the stream. He has no fear when the heat comes, his leaves are always green; the year of drought is no problem and he can always bear fruit.”

“Most deceitful is the heart. What is there within man, who can understand him? I, YHVH, search the heart and penetrate the mind. I reward each one according to his ways and the fruit of his deeds.”